Duplex tracker-board for automatic musical instruments or players.



M. CLARK.

DUPLEX TRACKER BOARD FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OR PLAYERS. APPLICATION FILED PEB.14, 1907 921,590, Patented May 11, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. W F9, 1

5- gi maagzcmmmmmfig M. CLARK. DUPLEX TRACKER BOARD FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 0R PLAYERS.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 14, 1907,.

Patented May 11, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I ||||||I| II [.III. III/ IIIIIIIIH/I I II I I I I I I IH I I I H I II N l H/ I I I l I I I l I I I I I IN II I I I I 1AM (WI YWM fi u UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILLE CLARK, OF CHICAGQILLINOIS.

'nnrm'x TRACKER-BOARD non AUTOMATICZMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS on PLAYERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Original application. filed February 14, 1907, Serial No. 357,318: Divided and this application filed February 14.

. 1907. I SeriaiNo. 357,319. 7

To all whom it may concern.

Beit known that I, .MELVILLE CLARK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chitherein. The purpose of 1907 now pending in the United States Patent Ofii'ce, its purpose-being to claim certain modifications of the generic invention shown in that applicationwhich difier specifically from others that are specifically claimed this invention is to provide a construction of tracker-devices for 1nus1cal instruments orsplayers by which such instrumentsmay be adapted to employ controlling sheets having their perforations cut according to different scales. g

It consists of the construction described and illustrated and indicated by the claims. In the drawings :Figure 1 is an edge view of trackerdevices embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3- is a partly sectional plan view of the tracker boar'd,'section being made at the lines 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional .wiew similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification of the means for closing the tracker month which is not in use. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a still further modification of the construction in which both the tracker boards are moved, with a different closure for the unused board. Fig. 6 is an edge elevation of the form shown in Fig. 5.

The tracker device comprises two elcments, each of which may be termed a tracker duct board. The tracker duct-board, 1, has the mouths-of the ducts, 3, spaced according to a scale different from that of the tracker duct-board, 2. The first may be understood as indicating, for example, a spec]- ing of one-sixth of an lnch between centers of consecutive ducts, andthe second may be understood as having that space one-tenthof an inch. In both trackerboards, at a distanfce back from the edge having the duct mouths, the ducts, 3., are equally s aced, and at this point both tracker ductcards are provided with ports, 4, loading from their respective ports to the proximate surfaces of the two boards.

One of the duct boardspreferably the .one'having the wide spacing and thereby necessarily the longer of the two boards, may be mounted in fixed position with respect to the supporting frame structure, the other being mounted behind or infront of it along the path of travel of the controlling sheet, 5. Preferably" the second board is mounted directly upon the first and is guided for-relative movement thereon, which may be effected in any convenient way which will occur-to any mechanic, its range of movement being from a positionat which the ports, 4, of the respective boards register and the board, 2, is protruded to the con- -troller, to a position at which the ports being out of registration, the board, 1,.is in contact with the controller being relatively protruded, board, 2, being retractedso that it no longer protrudes beyond the board, 1. In this latter position the ports, 4, of both boards are closediby contact with the other board. For effectively closing the ports at this position, the proximate and contacting faces of the two boards for a distance each way from the ports, 4, may be provided with a felt strip, 6, which affords the port closing surface. Y

The tubes, 7, which lead to the pneumatic action (not represented) are connected preferably to the ducts of the fixed board, 1, and this board is provided with means for closing its-duct months at the edge on which the controller travels in o eration when the ports, 4, are registered wit 1 the ports, 4, of the other board, the latter being at that point protruded into operative position in relation to the controller sheet. The device for covering the duct months may be a valve bar or lip,.8, which may be pivoted by means of bracket ears, 8; at the ends of the trackerboard, 1, and adapted to be swung down forward of said board to uucorcr the ducts and to be swung up over the edge ofthe board to.

the edge of the board around the lower corner,

to the position where it is out of the way of.

- the controller sheet.

An automatically operated device for closing the duct mouths of the board, 1, is shown in Fig. 4 consisting of a valve bar 10 which is lodged in a rabbet, 2", on the side of the board, 2, which faces the board, '1,

= position to close the duct mouths of the board, 1. When the board, 2, is retracted,

' the valve bar, 10, being drawn over the edge of the board, 1, is rocked back into a position where it occupies the rabbet, 2, formed in the board, 2, while it is withdrawn with the board, 2, down alongside the board, 1, leaving the edge of the latterprotruded sufficiently to receive the contact of the controller sheet.

In Figs. Sand 6 there is shown a further modification in which the two tracker boards are both movable edgewise to bring one-or the other at will into operative relation with the perforated controller sheet, 5, said tracker boards being retained between guides, 15, on the end checks of the case, and stopped b ins, 17, encountering such uides at t e mits of the adjustment of the boards in each direction. 1

For closing whichever board is outof service there is provided an angle bar, 16, mounted for rocking over an axis lying in the plane of contact of the two boards with each other and parallel with their edges in such position that one face of the-angle bar seats upon the edge of one tracker board when the other tracker board is protruded so as to stand alongside the outer edge of the angle bar,

said angle bar being'thus located precisely similarly with respect to the two tracker boards and so that whichever board is protraded to take the contact of the controller sheet'will hold one of the lips of the angle bar in position closing the mouth of the ducts of 50 the other board.

The remote edge corners of the tracker bars are beveled and both wings of the angle bar have at the outer edge a protruding beveledlip, 16, which fits the beveled corher of the tracker board'when the lip of the angle bar is situated on the latter for closing its ducts, and the cooperation of the inner edge of the tracker board which is protruded with the beveled lip, 16, of the angle bar when the tracker board is thus protruded to the limit 0 crates to crowd the other wing of a the angle war down on to the edge of the tracker board for securely closing the ductsv of the latter, thus dispensing with any spring respective ducts; means for relative or other expedient of such nature for that purpose. I

I cla un:

1. In an automatic musical instrument or player, in'combination with a traveling controller sheet, a duplex tracker device comprising two elements having ductmouths spacedaccording to difi'erentscales, said elements being mounted one behind the other along the path of travel of the controller; means for moving saidelements relatively to each other toprotrude either at will beyond ed to register for connecting the ducts of one element with the corresponding ducts of the other element when the element to which'the tubes are connected is withdrawn from the controller, and means for controlling the it is so withdrawn.

2. In an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with a traveling controller, a tracker device comprising two elements having respectwelysets of ducts Whose mouths are spaced according to different scales and mounted one behind the other in the path of travel of the controller, the ducts distance back from their respective mouths and provided with ports for registration .ducts of said element'bevond said ports when in the two elements being equally spaced at a opening through the proximate surfaces of I I the. two elements, said two elements being relatively movable to cause said ports to register or to be out of registration; a single set of tubes connected with the ducts of one board leading to the pneumatic action, and means for closing the ducts of said board beyond the registering ports when said ports are registered with those of the other board.

3. In an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with a traveling controller sheet, a tracker device comprising two elements mounted one behind the other along the path of the controller having respective sets of ducts whose mouths are spaced according to different scales, said ducts bein ata distance back from their mouths space equally, and at such point provided with ports adapted to register for connecting their 3 a justing said terminal elements to protrude either beyond the other toward the controller, and connectionsfrom the ducts of one elementto the pneumatic action, the ports being in osition to be out of registration whensaicl element is protruded to the con troller; a valve device for closing the duct mouths of said element when the latter is withdrawn from the controller, consisting of a bar hinged onthe proximate side of the other element and adapted to fold over onto the mouth edge of the first element, and a spring for so folding said bar.

11 an automatic musical instrument or t player in combination with a-traveling controller sheet, a duplex tracker device comprisin two elements having duct mouths space according to different scales, said elements being mounted one behind the other along the path of travel of the controller means for moving said elements relatively to each other to protrude either at will beyond the other toward the controller; a single set of tubes connecting the ducts of one of said elements With the pneumatic action, said elements having ports in their proximate faces leading to their respective ducts adapted to register for connectin the ducts of one element to. the correspon ing ducts of the 

